Alex Ferguson is backing Wayne Rooney

ALEX FERGUSON believes that Wayne Rooney can banish his demons tonight at the ground where he was sent off in disgrace for a World Cup stamp.

Alex Ferguson is certain Wayne Rooney will show the world he's back to his best

Alex Ferguson is certain that Manchester United’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Schalke is the perfect stage for Wayne Rooney to show the world he is back to his best.

Rooney’s form dipped after he had twisted his ankle on his last visit to Germany in last season’s quarter-final defeat by Bayern Munich.

And five years ago in Schalke’s Veltins-Arena, he was sent off in shame for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho, as England’s World Cup campaign ended against Portugal.

But Ferguson is convinced that Rooney, who was superb in the two games against Chelsea in the last eight, will enjoy happier times on German soil tonight.

“Wayne’s form has been absolutely fantastic in the past two months,” said Ferguson.

Wayne Rooney’s form has been absolutely fantastic in the past two months

Alex Ferguson

“Good players create their own platforms in the sense of the importance of their performance.

“And I think Wayne, more than anyone, realises that performances are the thing that he will always be judged on because there is an expectation of the boy.

“You see that he has stepped up to the mark for that and proved himself entirely. You have to put bad moments behind you, it’s normal for any footballer, and Wayne has done that.”

Ferguson believes Rooney’s form and the freshness of players such as Rio Ferdinand, Antonio Valencia and Ji-Sung Park, who have come back from long injury lay-offs, have boosted United’s hopes of reaching their third Champions League final in four seasons.

But he refuses to underestimate unfancied Schalke after their stunning 7-3 aggregate win over holders Inter Milan in the last round and admits it will be a hard game.

Dimitar Berbatov will miss the game with a groin strain, while Darren Fletcher, who has recovered from the virus that kept him out for six weeks, is left out so he can be fit for Sunday’s visit to Arsenal.